Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

15 reviews

henri04's review

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Abortion

laurataylor's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

feyiosinaike's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Incest, Gun violence, Abortion, Sexual assault, Infertility, and Child abuse

jamieholton's review

challenging dark funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Racism and Abortion

Minor: Infertility

thewordsdevourer's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

The Bread the Devil Knead is an immensely immersive yet subtly meaty book that would've undoubtedly gotten 4 stars if only I wasn't depressed reading abt the main character Alethea's surprisingly dark and challenging trials.

This novel is unique, I think, in its complex and deep-layered portrayal of an abusive relationship where the female victim can actually afford to leave w/o her life falling apart a lil. But she doesnt, and her reasons - or rather lifelong trauma-rooted conditioning - for not doing so unearth a whole can of worms that are truly disturbing. I feel for the main character while also being frustrated at times.

A lot of important issues - some rampant in Trinidadian society - are also tackled, such as racism, colorism, female identity outside of motherhood, misogyny, and ofc intergenerational abuse and trauma, and Allen-Agostini does so w/o making it overwhelming. Another thing I enjoy is Alethea's distinctive voice that can be both unintentionally dark and funny; it def makes the story even more memorable.

Overall, this is a novel riveting in both its darkness and glimmers of light. It manages to keep me glued to the pg in dread, and that's def sth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion and Infertility